Tasman Highway

The Tasman Highway (or A3) is a highway in Tasmania, Australia. Like the Midland Highway, it connects the major cities of Hobart and Launceston — however it takes a different route, via the north-eastern and eastern coasts of the state. The Highway also acts as a major commuter road to Hobart residents living on the eastern side of the Derwent River. The designation "Tasman Highway" arises from its location facing the Tasman Sea — named, like the state itself, after Abel Tasman. The highway is one of the longest in Tasmania - 410 kilometres, with an average traveling time of 4¹⁄₂ hours.

Eastern Outlet

The Tasman Highway starts at Hobart and is also known to some commuters as the Eastern Outlet. The highway starts as a four lane highway (with a special lane management system for Tasman Bridge rush hour traffic). From the bridge to the airport roundabout, the highway is a four lane grade separated limited-access road. Both the South Arm Highway and the East Derwent Highway join up to the highway during this section of the highway.

Until the 1980s the only route to the airport was via Rosny Hill Road, Cambridge Road and Kennedy Drive. During 1990s, the section of highway between the Tasman Bridge and the airport was Primarily 2 lanes with constant overtaking lanes, however the Federal Government funded the project to see the four lane expressway that exists today. For the remaining 4 km from the Airport the highway is 2 lanes, and travels over Mcgees Bridge and the Sorell Causeway on its way to Sorell.

Sorell to St Helens

The road to Orford remains at the national standard as a two-lane highway, albeit with only a few overtaking lanes along its distance. The remainder of the road to St Helens is two lane, with even fewer overtaking opportunities. The eastern, coastal portion of the highway is spectacular, in places running just metres from the Tasman Sea, which makes this the eastern-most A road in Tasmania.

The Tasman Highway is marketed as "East Coast Escape" between St Helens and Orford, to fit in with Tasmania's scheme of introducing tourist trails, a way of simplifying navigation of key tourist locations in Tasmania.

Prior to 1990, there was no coastal route between Falmouth and the Chain of Lagoons – one had to travel into and out of St Marys, both roads being steep grades. The bypass was officially opened on 2 December 1991, though motorists had been using the partially constructed road before its opening. Great care was taken during the construction to protect Aboriginal middens and the general environment.^[2]

St Helens to Launceston

At the Launceston end, the highway is a main road with traffic lights. Out of the city, it becomes an ordinary two-lane road through the mountains. It passes waterfalls and through timber and rainforest country.

The portion between Launceston and Scottsdale runs through the Sideling Range. There is a lookout which offers a spectacular view of Scottsdale and its surrounds.

The highway also passes through several former mining towns.

Route

The highway passes through the following localities:

• Hobart
• Suburbs the Highway passes out of Hobart
  • Rose Bay
  • Rosny
  • Warrane
  • Mornington
  • Cambridge
  • Midway Point
• Sorell
• Orielton
• Runnymede
• Buckland
• Orford
• Swansea
• (Freycinet National Park)
• Bicheno
• (St Marys)
• Scamander
• St Helens
• Scottsdale
• St Leonards and other Launceston suburbs
• Launceston

Eastern Outlet Exits

See also

• Hobart Area Transportation Study
• Highways in Australia
• List of highways in Tasmania

References